Gian Paolo Montali was chosen to replace former coach Andrea Anastasi and lead Italy's national team to the 2003 World League following more than disappointing results in 2002. The most successful team in the history of the competition managed only fourth place last year and things got even worse for the once invincible Squadra Azzuri at the World Championship in Argentina, where they finished only fifth. Montali's recipe to revert the downhill course seems to be simple: "Attitude, attitude, attitude," he said, underlining that he expected all his star players to dedicate themselves to every competition, match, set and even rally. Montali has already scored a string of achievements in his country where his teams from four cities already won five different championships. The coaching of the national team is a great challenge for him, he said. He intends to focus on the 2004 Olympics in Athens, which, in his view, is the best way to motivate his team and to show how powerful they can
be. (Photo
credit to www.volleymilano.it)